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The late Australian playwright Aidan Fennessy’s play THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR, commissioned with the assistance of the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Next Stage program, was first produced by the MTC in 2022. It is now having a fresh, new production at Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre.
Entering the performance space we are greeted by Nick Fry’s finely detailed set which anchors us in to a country town community hall. Amongst the features are a bar/kiosk area, ‘bar doors’ that swing our, a wall radiator, a corkboard with flyers, a portrait of the queen, a piano, commemoration boards.
The play’s action starts on a fun, quirky way. Choirmaster Barbara (Valerie Bader) comes in to the hall, puts on the lights and heater, does some warm ups and then ends the opening vignette by breaking wind!
Soon Barbara is joined by her choristers; Mack, her daughter Savannah, Aseni, and Totty. They were part of a much larger group but there was a big falling out and this is who Barbara has been left with.
They are still determined to perform at the big up-coming festival and they have numbers to perform. First though, they have to come up with a name for their ‘new’ choir. After a bit of toing and froing, they come up with the name, The Heartbreak Choir.
Soon they have an unexpected addition to the choir. Policeman Peter had earlier taken a look in to the hall and seen the women performing and left, has returned. He comes in for a chat. A very friendly, disarming sort of guy. Barbara senses that he has come for more than a chat, and asks him if he wants to join the choir. Peter sees yes. The women give him a brief audition which he easily passes. He’s in.
A little later on, we meet his boy Beau (Jasper Lee-Lindsay) who makes an inauspicious entrance, bouncing his basketball up and down in a totally bored, on the spectrum, way. Barbara asks him if he wants to join the choir but he just ‘shrugs’ no. Talking is too much of an effort for him.
This is a fine play. Very well structured. Questions to resolve. Will the Heartbreak Choir be able to put on a good performance at the festival? Will the secret that Barbara is holding play a role later in the play?
Most of all the play is about the music, it’s healing power and the way it connects and bonds people. The cast are more than up for it, singing beautifully.
Clearly Anne Ledwich loves this play and sculpts a fine production.
Anne Ledwich directs with a sure touch.
Much loved, veteran performer Valerie Bader, well accustomed to the Ensemble stage, is a perfect fit as the very warm, unpretentious Barbara.
Carita Farrer Spencer plays the wise cracking, rowdy, ribald herb farmer Mack. Farrer Spencer revels in the part of this wildcard character. One never knows what she is going to say next.
Tyallah Bullock is her daughter Savannah, very different in personality. Unlike her mum, she is quiet and reserved, though another side does come out.
Nancy Denis Is a delight as the high spirited, very pregnant Zimbabwean migrant, Aseni. When the group gets a bit down on itself, it is Aseni who lifts their spirits. And she promises them, no matter what happens, that she will be performing at the festival.
Georgina Symes plays the quirkiest character, Totty. Early in the play she announces, very matter of fact, that she has bought a plane. The group see her as being a bit frosty.
Jay Laga’Aia has such a light presence on stage and gives an appealing performance as Peter.
Jasper Lee-Lindsay plays Peter’s withdrawn son, Beau. It starts off as being a comic role but then changes direction.
Nick Fry’s costume design, Verity Hampson’s lighting and Steve Francis’ soundscape all work in the background, subliminally, to heighten our theatre experience.
This feel good show, I can’t remember the last time the Ensemble staged a musical, is a great way to see out 2024.
Aidan Fennessy’s THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR is playing the Ensemble Theatre. 98 McDougall Street, Kirribilli until the 12th January 2025.
